Over the past few weeks, Bulls players have been doling out heaping helpings of optimism about the upcoming season. Kyle Korver bragged up team chemistry and Carlos Boozer set the modest organization goal of a championship. Now, amidst rumors of some serious Boozer-inspired training camp synergy, we have been informed that Derrick Rose believes he can be one simple little thing:
The best.
Said Rose: “The way I look at it, why can’t I be the MVP in the league? Why can’t I be the best player in the league? I don’t see why not. I work hard, I dedicate myself to the game and sacrifice a lot of things at a young age, and I know, if I continue to do good what I can get out of it. If that’s me going out and doing whatever, I’m willing to do it because in the long run I know it’s gonna help me.
“This is the hardest I’ve ever worked out, this past summer. I’ve put a lot of work in, staying in the gym every day, making sure I’m getting prepared for a big season because I believe we can make it far.”
Teammate Joakim Noah, who as of this writing still isn’t contractually obligated to the Bulls past this season, is very cool with Rose’s personal goals: “Derrick is an unbelievable talent and things have really changed around here since he’s been in Chicago. If Derrick feels that way, that’s good for us.”
I mostly agree. I mean, do I worry about the team building unrealistic expectations? Sure, a little. After all, there have been high expectations around here before. Prior to the 2007-08 season, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng were supposed to be the core of a squad that some people thought could make it to the NBA Finals. Now Gordon and Hinrich are gone, and if the Bulls could flip Deng’s contract, they probably would.
Still, all things being equal, the Bull seem to have more raw talent than any Chicago team since the Michael Jordan era. And Rose has as much upside of any Bulls player since MJ retired the second time. So why not? Let the kid’s confidence flow.
One other training camp random: According to Doug Thonus of ChicagoNow, Taj Gibson has been developing his three-point shot (although “it’s still probably a year away”). That’s great and all, I guess. But I have to admit, I would have rather read that Gibson had spent the summer developing his post game.
RITE WHY IN THE GOT DANG WORLD… OH I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK WHEN I READ THAT… THIS BOY I HOPE HE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FAVORITE PLAYER TYRUS THOMAS… BEFORE DERRICK ROSE CAME ALONG… TAJ IM TELLING YOU NOW START SHOOTING THREES YOU BETTER BE AT LEAST 32% OR BETTER… IF NOT THEN BYE BYE, YOU CAN GO TO THE BOBCATS WITH ALL THOSE BAD SHOOTERS…
For years I believed the pre-season media hype about Eddie Curry coming into camp lighter and in shape and Ty Chandler putting on 20 pounds of muscle weight, or “fill in player name” improving a facet of his game by working on it hard over the summer, only to be disappointed seeing no change in that player when camp or season started. Then along came Noah and Rose. Noah reportedly did weight training to get beefier and stronger and Rose worked on extending his range last summer (2009). Lo and behold at the start of last season, Noah actually did look beefier and Rose kept making deeper mid-range shots. That’s when I realized these two are very special players. So I can’t wait to see Noah’s improved offensive game and Rose’s improved defense this season.
But Taj shooting three’s? And I thought we brought in Kurt Thomas to mentor and toughen up our young bigs. So Brian Scalabrine is much quicker than everyone thought as he’s getting to our young bigs way faster than KT. LOL
Chuck Swirsky tweeted that James Johnson lost 30 pounds and looks outstanding. I don’t know what I can’t wait to see more, a Taj Gibson triple or a 30 pound lighter JJ defending a quick 2 guard. LMAO
U A LAME DONT COMMENT NO MORE…
First man, you might just be the dumbest sounding person ever. “U A LAME?” What the hell is that?
I’m psyched about the confidence this team has. Derrick Rose is accepting and embracing his roll as the superstar on this team and I love it.
Why can’t I be humble? Why Can’t I let other people do the talking and I do the playing. Why can’t I keep my mouth shut and now people are seeing Lebron James is really after all?
I love Rose talking it up….and I think he can back it up. Taj shooting 3’s…..I have to agree….he should have spent more time working on his post game. I saw JJ a couple times in the summer league….he physically looks incredible….but his game didn’t look much better. He fouled too much and gets lost on offense when he isn’t making stupid decisions. He did have one awesome dunk.
I got rose avg 23 pts 9 ass 4 reb 1 st 50% fg 33% 3pt and 80% ft with 1 3 pt fgm/game and close to 3 to 1 ass to to ratio and i got him starting the all star game and making all nba team good shot at first team for sure 3rd term… i got noah top 5 reb top 10 blocks second team all d and maybe an all star spot gibson needs to add weight and 3pt shot is coo he ll prob get more 3pt looks than post ups.
JJ losing weight doesnt sound all that great to me. His one good attribute is his physicality so Im not sure thats such a good thing anyways. And in his defense, although he probably doesnt deserve it, the summer league team was a bunch of undrafted kids mixed with D-leaguers and most other teams had a couple starters or at least guys that play a lot of minutes playing on their summer league team. Just sayin, he was kind of dealt a few cards short of a deck.
Sorry but if you have spent a whole season in the NBA, you should stand out in the summer league against inferior talent. See Anthony Morrow and Anthony Randolph. I love JJ’s potential, but unless he shows he’s got some court savvy this season, he will be learning how to say pass the ball in Chinese. Hey might just be a big hit an Beijing with his martial arts skills. LOL
I agree that JJ has been mostly a bust so far. I just think that his situation has been a mixture of being a project for the coaching staff and not getting consistent playing time to make that project successful. His biggest problem by far and away is his decision making but it is hard to develop good habits when you can never be sure how much if at all you are going to play.
Either way though he seems like his time is up when it comes to having the time to sit around and hope his game improves. With Korver probably going to see a lot of time at the 3 spot behind Deng, JJ needs to show EARLY this season that he can produce or he might be riding the bench the whole season. Its disappointing because a certain coach probably should have been a bit more concerned with developing a guy with so much upside. Unfortunately for JJ, Vinny was too involved with putting himself next to Derrick Rose every step of the way, probably seeing Rose’s development as his meal ticket. Personally though I think Rose was going to be a superstar even if his coach was Barney the Dinosaur.
Off subject sorry. The point is I think JJ hasnt gotten the help he needed and his time contributing to the Bulls is probably toast barring major injuries to Korver and Deng.
Cool Story Bro
Hey your site is a bit messy in IE
What form of monetizing do you use?